Automatic greasing unit



0a. 13, 1959 J. T. GEORGE ETAL 2,908,354

AUTOMATIC GREASING UNIT 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1956 INVENTORSLM Janesfivr'mmldmmbmm .FJE. J

Oct. '13, 1959 Filed March 9, 1956 J. r. GEORGE EI'AL 2,908,354 AUTOMATIC GREASING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I' l 'hl l l United States Patent AUTOMATIC GREASING UNIT James Troy George and Jess N. Dugger, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application March 9, 1956, Serial No. 570,646 4 Claims (Cl. 184-15) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to lubricating devices and, as illustrated herein, relates more particularly to a device or a system particularly adapted for automatically greasing moving conveyor elements.

Heretofore, automatic lubricating devices, having lubrication applying nozzles arranged to engage fittings on a moving conveyor element, have not been entirely satisfactory for several reasons. The nozzle and receiving fittings have not always been properly aligned either horizontally or vertically. One of the reasons for improper alignment may be traced to the improper positioning of the grease applying mechanism in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt or chain. Another reason for improper positioning results from the raising or lowering of one or both of the elements so that the lubrication receiving fitting will not be properly aligned vertically with respect to the applying nozzle. In order to provide a reasonable amount of play between the conveyor wheels and the track in which the wheels are supported, the wheels are free to move sideways within reasonable limits. It is evident that such lateral displacement of the wheels on the tracks presents another factor which results in misalignment between the applying nozzles and the lubrication receiving fittings.

One object of the present invention is to provide a lubrication applying system for conveyors wherein the above-mentioned dilficulties will be overcome. To this end, and in accordance with one feature of the invention, a portion of the conveyor track adjacent to the greasing station is provided with members which are accurately spaced and which insure lateral positioning of the conveyor wheels. Means are also provided for maintaining the wheels in engagement with the supporting portion of the track with which they are associated and means are also provided for returning the lubrication applying device to its initial position and holding said device in said intial position until the greasing mechanism is again brought into operation to lubricate the next succeeding wheels of the conveyor.

As illustrated, the present invention includes a pair of substantially parallel U-shaped members which are arranged to receive the wheels of the conveyor system. The U-shaped members are spaced apart a distance which will insure against locking or binding of the conveyor wheels against the track as the conveyor is operated. However, at the lubricating station the track is provided with a pair of parallel spaced members which are secured to the track in any suitable manner and Which are arranged to engage the outer periphery of the conveyor wheels to maintain the lateral or horizontal position of the wheels during movement through the greasing station. In order to insure that the wheels and, consequently, the fittings fixed to the axles of said wheels are positioned vertically in alignment with a pair of opposed grease applying nozzles, either one or both of the U- shaped tracks is provided with a cam member which is arranged in the upper portion of the track in such a manner that the conveyor wheels are forced downwardly and against the track during movement through the greasing station. It is apparent from the above that by the use of the present construction, automatic lubrication of moving conveyor components is accomplished with certainty.

Other objects of the invention are to improve, generally, upon the construction and operation of conveyor lubricating systems.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of apparatus illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is'a top plan view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of the grease supplying system; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a conventional form of spring hinge.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is shown as applied to a conveyor or tow system installed below floor level and used to tow mobile dollies from one end of a warehouse to the other. The invention is shown as applied to the return pass of the conveyor or tow chain so that the conveyor wheels may be greased during the return pass and while that portion of the chain is not actually under load. In operation the'tow chain is so mounted below the floor that the dolly-engaging projections may extend into a slot in the floor so that the tow bars or other towing devices on the dolly may be engaged therewith. The conveyor or towing system preferably is in the form of a closed loop having a pair of parallel runs joined at each end by a pair of semicircular sections about which the tow or conveyor chain passes. The system, however, may be installed either above or below a warehouse floor depending upon the use to which the system is to be put or it may be installed vertically or at any other angle to raise materials from one level to another.

The present invention is shown herein as applied to the lower or return run of a below-the-fioor installation. The greasing device of the present invention includes means for positively locating the grease fittings on the conveyor elements at the greasing station to insure that cooperating grease gun nozzles will be certain to engage the desired grease fittings. The present system includes a track 10 comprising a pair of spaced parallel U-shaped channel members 12 which are arranged to receive wheels 14 having a diameter somewhat less than the distance between the legs of the U-shaped channel members.

The wheels 14 are mounted on opposite ends of an axle 16 which is supported in suitable bearings (not shown) formed in a housing 18. The housing 18 may be formed of cast iron although it is evident'that any other suitable material may be used if so desired. The housing 18 at each end is connected to a pair of vertically spaced parallel members 20 which are separated by barrel-shaped plugs 22 by suitable bolts 24 which pass through suitable or aligned openings in the parts mentioned above. The spaced parallel members 20 together with the plugs 22 form a-link of a continuous chain which passes over suitable power-operated sprocket wheels as is usual in a system of this type. The links just above referred to are connected together in suitable spaced relation by endless strap-like loops 26 formed of any suitable material. I

The axle 16 is provided at each end with a suitable grease receiving fitting 90 which is threaded into a suitable opening in the end of the axis 16 and which permits grease to be discharged into the bearing members at each end of the housing 18. The construction described above is old and well known in the art and hence need not be described in greater detail herein since the precise construction of the conveyor system forms no part of the present invention. 7

It is essential to the successful operation of any automatic system that the coacting elements thereof be brought into accurate alignment with each other before they can be brought into engagement with each other. To this end, the U-shaped channel track members 12 are provided at the greasing station with members 30 in the form of metal rods which are welded to the track at the greasing station and which are arranged to engage the outer peripheral portions of the wheels 14, thus maintaining the wheel rigidly in position in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt. The track at the greasing station is also provided with a wedge-shaped member 32 which is welded to one of the track members 12 and which is arranged to engage the upper portion of the rim of one of the wheels 14 which is effective to force the conveyor portion downwardly and into engagement with supporting portions of the track members 12, thus the vertical position of the conveyor element to be greased is obtained. In other words, the rods 30 prevent lateral shifting of the wheels '14 and the axle on which they are mounted during the greasing operation and the wedge-shaped cam member 32 maintains the wheels against upward displacement.

The greasing station comprises a plurality of elements arranged to be activated when a conveyor element reaches a predetermined position along the return run of track 10. The greasing device comprises a car or platform 34 which is arranged for limited movement along the track '10 and carries thereon the grease applying nozzles 36. The platform 34 is provided with wheels 38 mounted on stub axles 39 welded to the platform 34 and which are supported on the upper portion of the U-shaped channel members 12. The car or carriage 34 is formed of flat sheet metal having downturned portions 40 which fit closely against the outer surfaces of the U-shaped channel members 12 and provide supports for the grease applying nozzles 36 and the activating mechanism therefor, as will later be described. Movement of the car or platform 34 in one direction is limited by a stop member 42 which comprises a U-shaped member arranged to lay across the channel members 12. As shown most clearly in Fig. l, a pair of guard members 44 are bolted to each of the channel members 12 by bolts 45 and are each provided with a horizontal portion 46 parallel to the upper surface of the channel track members 12. The stop member 42 is prevented from moving toward the left, as shown in Fig. 1, by the vertical legs of the guard members 44. The vertical downturned portions 40 of the platform 34 have secured thereto by suitable fastenings vertical plates 56 on which the grease applying nozzles 36 are hingedly secured. V

The plate 50 is hingedly supported on a U-shaped bracket 52 by a pin 54 and the bracket 52 is secured to a vertical plate 56 by suitable bolts 58 and 60. The

bolts 60 also pass through the downturned portions 40 of the movable car or carriage 34. The plate 50 adjacent to its upper end portion is provided with a pair of vertical parallel slots 62 which are aligned with a pair of threaded holes 64 in a block 66 formed of steel or other suitable magnetic material. An angularly shaped plate 68 is interposed between the plate 50 and the block 66 and is provided with spaced openings which are aligned with the threaded holes in the block 66 and through which machine screws 70 are inserted for securing the plates 50, 68 and the block 66 together. The upper end portion of the plate 68 is bent to provide a plurality of pronged portions 72, 74 which embrace the pin 54 and form the articulated portion of the hinged support for the plate 50. The prongs 72, 74 are maintained in engagement with the pin 54 by a spring-urged member 76 having a pair of substantially parallel arms 78 which are spring held against substantially vertical prongs 80 formed on the plate 68. The member 76 is provided with a compression spring 82 which bears at one end against the cross bar of the plate 76 and at its other end bears against the hook 84 formed at one end of a metal strap. welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bracket 52. The above construction permits removal and replacement of the plates with either single or double greasing heads 36. The plate 50 with either single or double greasing heads thereon is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. 3 by a light compression spring 86. The left-hand plate, as viewed in Fig. 3 is swung into a counter clockwise direction by a solenoid 88 mounted on one leg of the U-shaped bracket 52 which forms a magnetic core for said solenoid and which attracts the block 66 when the solenoid 88 is energized, as will later be described.

The construction which supports the greasing heads 36 and moves them toward and away from greasing fittings 90 fixed to each end of the axle 16 is duplicated on the other side of the track 10 and both constructions are operated simultaneously to move toward and into engagement with opposite ends of the axle 16 as they advance along the track 10.

The solenoid 88 is energized to activate the greasing mechanism when the conveyor elements reach a predetermined portion on the track 10. As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, a portion of one of the U-shaped track members 12 is cut away to provide a yieldable portion 92 which will move downwardly an amount sutficient to trip and close an electric switch 94, which switch may be of any suitable construction. The switch 94 is located in the power circuit of the solenoid 88 and when the switch 94 is closed, the solenoid 88 is energized attracting the block 66 and causing the plate 50 to swing toward the conveyor element to cause the greasing nozzle 36 to move into engagement with the grease fittings 90 at the ends of the axle 16.

The yielding cut-out portion 92 is mounted on a spring hinge 96 which swings back to its intial position as the wheel 14 passes beyond the portion 92. The hinge 96, as best shown in Fig. 5, is normally urged toward switch open position by a conventional spring 97 which is fixed to the hinge 96 by suitable screws 95. Thus, the switch 94 is'permitted to open the solenoid circuit thus permitting the plate 50 to swing back to its initial position and to move the greasing nozzles 36 completely out of engagement with the grease fittings 90. The plate 50, of course, is returned to its initial position by the light compression spring 86 above referred to.

The entire greasing head transporting mechanism moves with the conveyor elements during the greasing operation. As soon as the nozzles 36 are moved into engagement with the fittings 90 the car or carriage 34 is moved by the conveyor until the solenoid circuit is open as above described to permit the greasing nozzle 36 to move out of engagement with the grease fittings 90. The carriage 34 is then returned to original position against the stop 42 by a tension spring 98 fixed at 100 to the carriage 54 and at its othere'nd to a cross bar 102.

,The greasing nozzles are provided with grease from a supply tank 106 from which grease is fed by a line 107 to a booster tank 108 by compressed air as is usual in systems of this type. The booster tank 108 is provided with a plurality of feed lines 110 which supply grease under pressure for nozzles 36. The nozzles 36 are of usual construction and are so constructed that they remain sealed to prevent leakage of grease until after the nozzles 36 are firmly seated against the grease fittings 90. As the conveyor elements move along the track and into the greasing station, the wheels 14 are precisely positioned transversely to the track by the rods 30, which as hereinbefore stated engage the outer end portions of the wheels and prevent any lateral movement thereof duringthe greasing operation. The conveyor elements are firmly seated against the supporting portions of the track during the greasing operations by a cam member 32 which is fixed to the upper portion of the U-shaped track members 12 and which cams the wheels 14 firmly against the underlying portions of the track members. Since the carriage 34 is always returned to a predetermined position and since the greasing nozzles 36 are caused to return to move into engagement with the fittings 90 when the wheels 14 reach -a predetermined point in their movement along the track, accurate alignment of the nozzles and the fittings is insured at all times thus preventing loss of grease and improper greasing due to faulty coaction of the co-operating parts.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention is shown as applied to a construction wherein only one nozzle is used at each side of the track 10 but it is evident that two or more nozzles could be applied at each side' of the track dependent upon the number of sets of wheels on the conveyor elements. For example, if two sets of nozzles were to be used at each side to accommodate two sets of wheels, it would be necessary to reset the stopped or initial position of the carriage 24 and this could easily be accomplished by removing the stop 42 and permitting the spring 98 to return the carriage 34 so that the left hand wheels 38 thereof are brought into stop position against the vertical guard members 44. Two grease nozzles 36 will then be mounted on each plate 50 through openings which are in accurate alignment with the two axles as the forward wheels of the pair are in position to trip the switch 94 to energize the solenoid 98. The nozzles 36 will be moved into engagement when fl-ie co-operating fittings and the several axles will be accomplished simultaneously.

Although the present invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that details of construction may be varied or modified within wide limits without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus for lubricating conveyor chains while they are in motion, including spaced wheeled conveyor elements, lubricant receiving fittings associated with each of said conveyor elements, a track along which said chain moves, a member mounted on said track for reciprocating movement thereon, lubricant applying elements mounted on said reciprocating member for supplying lubricant through said receiving fittings to said conveyor elements as said conveyor chain continues its movement, members releasably pivoted to said reciprocating member for supporting said lubricant applying elements, first biasing means including compression spring members for maintaining said pivoted members in disengaged position, an armature fixed to each of said pivoted members, magnetic means for swinging said armature and the 6g pivoted members to which they are attached to move the lubricant applying elements thereon into engagement with said lubricant receiving fittings, means for energizing said magnetic means when said lubricant receiving fittingsreach a predetermined position to cause said lubricant applying elements to swing into engagement with said lubricant fittings, said 'first biasing means effective upon the deenergization of said magnetic means to move said lubricant applying elements out of engagement with said fittings, and second biasing means for returning said reciprocating member to its initial position.

2. An apparatus for lubricating conveyor chains while they are in motion, including spaced wheeled conveyor elements, lubricant receiving fittings associated with each of said conveyor elements, a track along which said chain moves, a member mounted on said track for reciprocating movement thereon, lubricant applying elements mounted on said reciprocating member for supplying lubricant through said receiving fittings to said conveyor elements as said conveyor chain continues its movement, pivoted means on which said lubricant applying elements are supported, said pivoted means comprising a forked element arranged to engage a pivot pin and spring means for maintaining said forked element in engagement with said pivot pin magnetic means for swinging said pivoted means with the lubricant applying elements thereon into engagement with said lubricant receiving fittings, whereby said reciprocating means with the lubricant applying elements thereon are caused to move with said conveyor chain, means for energizing said magnetic means when said lubricant receiving fittings reach a predetermined position to cause said lubricant applying elements to move into engagement with said lubricant fittings, first biasing means effective upon the deenergization of said magnetic means to move said lubricant applying elements out of engagement with said fittings, and second biasing means for returning said reciprocating member to its initial position.

3. An apparatus for lubricating conveyor chains while they are in motion, including spaced wheeled conveyor elements, lubricant receiving fittings associated with each of said conveyor elements, a track along which said chain moves, a member mounted on said track for re ciprocating movement thereon, removable lubricant applying elements pivotally mounted on said reciprocating member for supplying lubricant through said receiving fittings to said conveyor elements as said conveyor chain continues its movement, first biasing means including a compression spring for maintaining said removable lubricant applying elements in disengaged position, magnetic means, means for energizing said magnetic means for swinging said lubricant applying elements into engagement with said lubricant receiving fittings to cause said reciprocating member to move with said conveyor chain for a predetermined length of travel and then permitting said grease supplying elements to swing out of engage ment with said lubricant receiving fittings, and second biasing means for returning said reciprocating member to its initial position.

4. An apparatus for lubricating conveyor chains while they are in motion, including spaced wheeled conveyor elements, lubricant receiving fittings associated with each of said conveyor elements, a track along which said chain moves, a member mounted on said track for re ciprocating movement thereon, removable lubricant applying elements pivotally mounted on said reciprocating member for supplying lubricant through said receiving fittings to said conveyor elements as said conveyor chain continues its movement, said lubricant applying elements comprising a forked member, a pivot pin and spring means for maintaining said forked member in engagement with said pivot pin to permit ready removal of said lubricant applying elements when so desired, magnetic means, means for energizing said magnetic means for swinging said lubricant applying elements into engagement with said 7. lubricant receiving fittings to cause said reciprocating member to move with said conveyor chain for a predetermined length of travel and then deenergizing said 2,294,575 Schneider Sept. 1, 1942 Moore 'Ian'. 6,1953 Schvveisthal Dec. 7, 1954 Clements Ju1y 17; 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS I V" 2 Great Britain Jan; 1,1936

Great Britain Dec. 6, 1945 

